More than £2 million to bust congestion on Black Country roads
More than £2 million we be spent on reducing congestion in the Black Country as part of a wave of improvements across the region.
The £5.84m programme is underway after being approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) following funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund.
The schemes include £660,000 around Merry Hill in Brierley Hill, £273,000 for the A34 Birmingham Road/A4041 Queslett Road and Newtown Road in Sandwell, £960,000 on the A461 in Walsall, and £500,000 for traffic signal upgrades and bus priority programmes on the A4124 in Wolverhampton.
The money is the authority's share of a £210m national pot set up by the government last year towards improving transport networks.
West Midlands transport supremo councillor Roger Lawrence said: “Congestion costs this region billions every year in lost productivity so it is to every road user’s benefit that we invest in keeping traffic moving.
“This money is being used in those schemes we feel will deliver the maximum return and ensure our roads are fit for the future.”
The work is being carried out by the constituent authorities of the WMCA and will take place over the current financial year.
The combined authority has also recently submitted additional bids on behalf of the seven local councils for further funding.
The outcome of this is expected to be announced in the autumn.
